Ditto what most people have said. I wouldn't expect a 2000 Camry which has had regular maintenance and has been driven under normal street conditions to be in quite such bad shape, although it does have a lot of miles on it.
By regular maintenance, I mean that the car's been taken to a qualified mechanic at least twice a year for an overall checkup, routine maintenance, and preparation for the particular season ahead (winterizing/summerizing). (For all you do-it-yourselfers out there: I intend no slur. If you know what you're doing, great. Personally, I'd end up emptying the old oil on my head, and I don't know a bearing from a belt, so I go to a mechanic.) If the car's led a hard life, you should consider whether or not that will change. If it won't change, then the car's likely to keep having serious problems.
Just as a point of comparison, I have a 2000 Chevy Prizm with a Corolla engine. It's only got 40 - 50 thousand miles on it, has a nice warm garage to sleep in, and goes to the mechanic twice a year for routine care. In the 3 years I've had it, it hasn't needed anything other than routine maintenance.
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Date: 2006-02-23 12:43 am (UTC)By regular maintenance, I mean that the car's been taken to a qualified mechanic at least twice a year for an overall checkup, routine maintenance, and preparation for the particular season ahead (winterizing/summerizing). (For all you do-it-yourselfers out there: I intend no slur. If you know what you're doing, great. Personally, I'd end up emptying the old oil on my head, and I don't know a bearing from a belt, so I go to a mechanic.) If the car's led a hard life, you should consider whether or not that will change. If it won't change, then the car's likely to keep having serious problems.
Just as a point of comparison, I have a 2000 Chevy Prizm with a Corolla engine. It's only got 40 - 50 thousand miles on it, has a nice warm garage to sleep in, and goes to the mechanic twice a year for routine care. In the 3 years I've had it, it hasn't needed anything other than routine maintenance.